BOSTON, MA – Fox Sports Net New England (FSNE) today announced that it has won a 2002 Beacon Award from the Cable Television Public Affairs Association (CTPAA) for activities surrounding its 20th Anniversary celebration this past November.
The Beacon Award, which was awarded on March 12 at the CTPAA's national conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington D.C., recognizes excellence in public affairs throughout the cable industry. FSNE won the Beacon Award in the "Customers, Local Programming/Series" category.
"We are proud to have earned this honor from our industry in commemoration of our twentieth anniversary year," said David Woodman, Senior Vice President/General Manager at FSNE. "Our local programming connects with every New England sports fan, bringing them high quality, informative and entertaining sports coverage. For 20 years, we've shared with our viewers a passion for New England sports and for the community within which we work and live. We're honored to be recognized for our efforts."
In celebration of 20 years, FSNE dedicated a mural by Steve Sax – depicting the most memorable moments in New England sports history – to the Sports Museum of New England and hosted an event attended by numerous local sports heroes including Tommy Heinsohn, Phil Esposito, Bill Rodgers, Gerard Phelan, Steve Lyons and Paul Pierce. In addition, FSNE in association with Duffy & Shanley, Inc. and Element Productions, produced an on-air campaign coined, "We Live for the Moments." The campaign featured New England sports fans recalling "where they were" during some of the most memorable moments in New England sports. The network also produced a series of news features on great sports moments in New England such as Carlton Fisk's Game 6 home run and the infamous "Hail Mary." As part of the anniversary celebration, FSNE also honored Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn, the longest running sports announce team in America, in a special halftime ceremony on November 9th when the Boston Celtics played the Seattle Sonics. FSNE's 20th Anniversary activities were sponsored by Miller Brewing.
From the 420 entries received in this year's Beacon Awards competition, 104 finalists were chosen by cable public affairs professionals in an extensive two-phase judging process. The overwhelming number of entries continue to demonstrate the industry's commitment to public affairs and represent company initiatives implemented over the past year in the areas of community, customer, employee and industry relations, as well as education and government affairs.
Launched as PRISM New England to 500 subscribers in Connecticut on November 6, 1981, the channel became SportsChannel New England in 1983. On January 28, 1998, the name was
changed to Fox Sports Net New England. Through its incarnations, FSNE has remained a staple for sports fans throughout New England.
Fox Sports Net New England, the largest regional cable network in New England, reaches more than 3.7 million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Fox Sports Net New England is managed by Rainbow Sports Networks, a division of Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. Fox Sports Net New England's programming includes Boston Celtics, local and national sports news, and Hockey East along with select NASCAR and PGA Tour coverage.
Fox Sports Net reaches more than 78 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partners, equally owned by Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. and Fox. Rainbow Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow's 50% ownership of Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports National Advertising and the ownership and management of Fox Sports Net regional networks in five of the nation's largest markets: Chicago, Florida, Ohio, New England and San Francisco.